Magnetic bacteria stir reaction in droplet microreactor

Illustration of the Pickering emulsion system

Source: © Royal Society of Chemistry

Researchers in China use magnetotactic bacteria to mix reagents in microreactors

Using bacteria as tiny stirring bars could be a new way to accelerate chemical reactions in droplets. Researchers in China have shown that they can significantly speed up an epoxidation reaction within a Pickering emulsion droplet by using naturally magnetic bacteria to mix the catalysts and reactants.